Ryan Parke (The Men's Coach) shares his personal experience with the suicide of a friend and explores the complexities of male mental health. He discusses the common belief that men don't talk about their feelings, which he challenges. Ryan and I particularly delve into the role of testosterone in men's health, debunking myths about its effects and emphasising the importance of lifestyle factors such as sleep, diet, exercise, and sobriety in maintaining healthy testosterone levels. He provides practical advice for improving men's health and wellbeing, ultimately advocating for a more nuanced understanding of male mental health issues.

Takeaways

• Men's mental health is often misunderstood; communication is not the only solution.
• Testosterone plays a crucial role in both physical and mental health.
• Lifestyle changes can significantly impact testosterone levels:
• Sleep is vital for testosterone production and overall health.
• Diet, particularly fat intake, affects testosterone levels.
• Regular exercise is more effective than antidepressants for mental health.
• Vitamin D is essential for testosterone production.
• Alcohol consumption can drastically lower testosterone levels.
• Understanding testosterone can motivate young men to prioritise their health.

Resources Mentioned:

• The Men's Coach (Ryan's website) - themenscoach.co.uk
• OLLIE Foundation
• Over 1200 studies on male mental health

Episode Partners

The International Curriculum Association's Global.Learn.Connect Netherlands: Learn more

The University of Warwick's International Programmes | Learn more at warwick.ac.uk

Thank you for tuning in, and as always, if you found this episode useful, please share your experience. You can find me online on LinkedIn and Bluesky. My website is shaneleaning.com and email address is shane@shaneleaning.com.

About the host

Shane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports international schools globally. He co-founded Work Collaborative and hosts the chat-topping school leadership podcast, Education Leaders. Previously, he worked as Regional Head of Teaching Development for Nord Anglia Education. Passionate about empowering educators, he is currently co-authoring 'Change Starts Here.' As a CollectivEd Fellow, Teacher Development Trust Associate, and TEDx speaker, Shane has extensive experience in the UK and Asia and is a recognised voice in international education leadership. Learn more at shaneleaning.com.

Thank you for tuning in, and if you found this episode useful, please share. You can find me on LinkedIn and Bluesky.

Shane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports international schools globally. Passionate about empowering educators, he is currently co-authoring 'Change Starts Here.' Shane has extensive experience in the UK and Asia and is a recognised voice in international education leadership. Learn more at shaneleaning.com.

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